The hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and its population has declined by over 80% in the last century. The Eastern Pacific population is one of the most threatened hawksbill populations globally. Western Mexico is the northern distribution limit for hawksbill sea turtles in the Eastern Pacific and recent research indicates that the Mexican Pacific portion of the population is a separate management unit because of the restricted movements of these turtles. Here we use the most complete database of sighting records in the north-west Pacific of Mexico to identify sites where hawksbill turtles are present. We also develop a conservation index to determine the conservation status of hawksbill turtle sites. Our results demonstrate the importance of this region for juveniles and the relevance of rocky reefs and mangrove estuaries as habitats for hawksbill turtles. We identified 52 sites with records of hawksbill turtles. Most of these sites (71%) are not protected; however, sites with high conservation value included islands and coastal sites along the Baja California peninsula that are established as marine protected areas. Reefs and mangrove estuaries relevant for hawksbill turtles are probably also significant fish nursery areas that are important for local fishing communities, creating opportunities for conservation strategies that combine science, local engagement and policy to benefit both local fishing communities and hawksbill sea turtle conservation.

The mid-to-late Pleistocene Devils Hole δ18O record has been extended from 60,000 to 4500 yr ago. The new δ18O time series, in conjunction with the one previously published, is shown to be a proxy of Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) off the coast of California. During marine oxygen isotope stages (MIS) 2 and 6, the Devil Hole and SST time series exhibit a steady warming that began 5000 to > 10,000 yr prior to the last and penultimate deglaciations. Several possible proximate causes for this early warming are evaluated. The magnitude of the peak δ18O or SST during the last interglacial (LIG) is significantly greater (1 per mill and 2 to 3°C, respectively) than the peak value of these parameters for the Holocene; in contrast, benthic δ18O records of ice volume show only a few tenths per mill difference in the peak value for these interglacials. Statistical analysis provides an estimate of the large shared information (variation) between the Devils Hole and Eastern Pacific SST time series from ∼ 41 to ∼ 2°N and enforces the concept of a common forcing among all of these records. The extended Devils Hole record adds to evidence of the importance of uplands bordering the eastern Pacific as a source of archives for reconstructing Pacific climate variability.

This study examined the reproductive ecology of eight Eastern Pacific deep-sea octocorals, collected from Washington to Southern California. The sexuality, reproductive mode, oocyte size, and fecundity of each species were identified using histological techniques. This research increases the knowledge of basic life histories of deep-sea corals. Swiftia simplex had the highest total fecundity of 42.53 (±9.82 SE) oocytes per polyp. Mean oocyte diameters in S. simplex and S. pacifica females differs among sample months. Swiftia pacifica and S. kofoidi had the lowest total fecundity: 4.6 (±2.06 SE) and 3 (±1.53 SE) oocytes per polyp, respectively.

The first record of the plexaurid genus Psammogorgia from the shallow waters of Peru is reported here. A new species (Psammogorgia hookeri sp. nov.) is described from Isla San Gallán, Paracas National Reserve. The new species was morphologically analysed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It is distinguished from the others in the genus by its small size; prominent calyces with wide lips around polyp apertures and without a special type of sclerites, but with a concentration of irregular, thorny spindles and wart-clubs around the calyx rim; coenenchymal sclerites that do not reach more than 0.2 mm long; the occurrence of conspicuous star-like radiates; and the colour of the colony and coenenchymal sclerites, which is coral red. The results increase species richness within a genus that has not been studied for more than a century, and contribute to the establishment of characters for further morphological studies. Additionally, the new species adds value to existing protected areas and to the octocoral biodiversity records for the Peruvian region and the eastern Pacific.

A specimen of the Slimy head Hoplostethus mento was collected at a depth of 650–700 m from off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This specimen constitutes the first record of the species in Costa Rican waters and a north-west range extension of about 600 km on known distribution. A brief description of the specimen as well as comparative morphometric data and distributional information are provided.

A specimen of the Mocosa ruff Schedophilus haedrichi was collected at a depth of 295–350 m from off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This specimen constitutes the first record of the species in Costa Rican waters and a north-west range extension of about 750 km on known distribution. A brief description of the specimen as well as comparative morphometric data and distributional information are proposed.

Manefish are not very common and there are few observations of associations with other organisms. An adult of the manefish Paracaristius maderensis and a juvenile of Paracaristius sp. are reported for the first time for the Pacific coast of Central America. The adult specimen (215 mm standard length) was captured off Panama, at a depth of 1000 m. The juvenile specimen (17.5 mm standard length) was recorded on video, in association with the siphonophore Praya reticulata at Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica, at a depth of 100 m. A brief description of specimens supporting this record as well as comparative morphometric data and distributional information are provided. The fish–siphonophore association is illustrated.

A new species of Hirsutonuphis (Annelida: Onuphidae) is described from the continental shelf of the Gulf of California, Mexican Pacific. Hirsutonuphis paxtonae sp. nov. is easily distinguished from eight previously described species belonging to this genus, by the bi- and tri-dentate pseudocompound hooded falcigers on the first 5–6 chaetigers, the pectinate chaetae from chaetigers 6–11, the bidentate subacicular hooded hooks from chaetigers 18–21, and its colour pattern: a dark transverse band in the dorsal part of the peristomium and on each chaetiger, which gradually fades from chaetigers 12–27. Most species of Hirsutonuphis have been found in the Pacific Ocean, and more particularly in Australian waters, although this new onuphid is the third species of the genus described from the Mexican Pacific, in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. A taxonomic key is provided for all the species of the genus.

High predation by the corallivore gastropod Jenneria pustulata was observed in July 2011 in a high-latitude reef at Bahía de Los Ángeles in the northern Gulf of California. Porites panamensis corals were infested by 15 to 40 sea snails per colony (22 ± 7.25 ind 0.1 m–2 of Porites surface). Coral colonies were 20–30 cm tall and the average size of the sea snails were 1.7 cm (SD ± 0.238, N = 152). These data indicate a change in the daily pattern of movement and feeding of the gastropod in this reef. Despite high density of J. pustulata on the reef, no soft corals were observed as damaged by the sea snail.

Even though Ecuador is one of the twelve mega-diverse countries in the world, the polychaetes are still poorly known. Twelve polychaete species, namely Hemipodia pustatula (Glyceridae); Microphthalmus arenarius (Hesionidae); Scoletoma zonata (Lumbrineridae); Nereis riisei, Pseudonereis gallapagensis (Nereididae); Armandia salvadoriana, Euzonus mucronata (Opheliidae); Phyllodoce multiseriata (Phyllodocidae); Pisione longispinulata (Pisionidae); Malacoceros indicus, Scolelepis (Scolelepis) acuta (Spionidae) and Opisthosyllis arboricola (Syllidae) are newly reported in the intertidal sandy beaches of Bunche (0°39′01.98″N 80°03′55.01″W) and Cabo San Francisco (0°38′16.35″N 80°03′14.07″W), Esmeraldas Province (Ecuador). Furthermore, an amended diagnosis of Pisione longispinulata is presented.

Pacifigorgia marviva, a new shallow-water species of the family Gorgoniidae, was found in Coiba National Park, Pacific Panama at 35–40 m depth. It is characterized by having white to cream, small, erect colonies composed of 1–4 fronds, stems short or absent network irregular and open without fan midribs, and polyp mounds slightly raised and sparsely distributed. All sclerites are colourless. Coenenchymal sclerites mostly composed of long spindles reaching up to 0.25 mm in length, and long and thin anthocodial rods, up to 0.16 mm in length. Morphological characters are analysed and illustrated. Scanning electron microscopy was used for sclerite study. The new species is herein described and compared with other similar species reported from the eastern Pacific. Pacifigoria marviva increases the number of Pacifigorgia species to 35; 20 in Panama representing 57% of the genus in the eastern Pacific, followed by Costa Rica and Ecuador with 14 and 10 species, respectively.

On 30 September 2007, one specimen of Chili sea catfish Notarius troschelii was collected by a shrimp trawler on the continental shelf of the Mexican State of Nayarit. The fish, with a total length of 706 mm and a weight of 3910 g, constitutes a new record of maximum length and weight for this species.

New distribution information is given for three asteroid and one holothuroid species found in the eastern Pacific.

A new species of Australonuphis Paxton, 1979 from the Ecuadorian coast, eastern Pacific, is described. The new species is characterized by seven modified parapodia, cirriform ventral cirri on the anterior 16 to 19 chaetigers, subacicular hooks beginning from chaetigers 43 to 57, and cirriform interramal processes on chaetigers 7–10 to 16–18 transformed back in a rounded lobe. This species belongs to the species group with unidentate pseudocompound hooks. Other species of this group are A. beltrani de León-González & Góngora-Garza, 1993, A. hartmanae (Friedrich, 1956), A. parateres Paxton, 1979 and A. teres (Ehlers, 1868).

Leptogorgia christiae is a rarely collected new species found at 15–30 m depth at Roca Hacha, a rocky outcrop near Coiba Island characterized by its high diversity of octocorals. The branching pattern and combination of asymmetric blunt spindles, abundance of capstans, and a low occurrence of acute spindles are distinct characteristics of the new taxon. The new species is described, illustrated and compared to the other species of the genus reported from Pacific Panama; thus increasing the total of Leptogorgia species to 17, which encompasses over 70% of the shallow water species for the eastern Pacific.

The taxonomy of the snapping shrimp Alpheus cristulifrons Rathbun, 1900, previously reported from the eastern Pacific and western and eastern Atlantic, is reviewed based on molecular data (COI), morphology and colour patterns. Three species are recognized in the A. cristulifrons species complex. Alpheus cristulifrons sensu stricto is restricted to the western Atlantic, ranging from Florida and the Caribbean Sea to southern Brazil. The eastern Pacific A. cristulifrons sensu Kim & Abele, 1988 corresponds to A. utriensis Ramos & Von Prahl, 1989, ranging from the Gulf of California to Colombia; this species can be separated from A. cristulifrons by the absence of balaeniceps setae on the male minor chela and the presence of bands on the antennular and antennal flagella. The eastern Atlantic A. cristulifronssensu Crosnier & Forest, 1966 is described as A. xanthocarpus sp. nov. based on recently collected material from the island of São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea; this species differs from A. cristulifrons by the posteriorly more extending rostral carina and the presence of conspicuous yellow spots on the carpus and chela of the second pereiopod. Molecular data suggest that A. utriensis is the eastern Pacific sister clade to the amphi-Atlntic clade that includes A. cristulifrons and A. xanthocarpus sp. nov.